A Satkhira court has sentenced four people, including former BNP MP Habibul Islam Habib, to life-term imprisonment for attack on Sheikh Hasina’s motorcade. 44 other people received seven years’ jail.
Judge of Satkhira Special Tribunal-3 Biswanath Mondol pronounced the verdict in two cases over the attack, one under the Arms Act and another under the Explosives Act, on Tuesday (April 18).
Among the convicts, BNP central leader Habibul Islam Habib, Kalaroa Upazila Jubo Dal president Abdul Quader Bachchu and Kalaroa municipal Juba Dal president Arifur Rahman Ronju were sentenced to life-term imprisonment in the case under Arms Act while Habiul Islam Habib, Abdul Quader Bachchu, Arifur Rahman Ronju and former Chhatra Dal president Ripon were sentenced to life-term imprisonment in the case under Explosives Act.
The court sentenced the remaining 44 accused to seven years’ jail in the two cases.
A total of 35 accused, including former BNP MP Habibul Islam Habib, were present at the court during the pronouncement of the verdict. Of the total 50 accused, two have already died and 13 are absconding.
Public Prosecutor (PP) of Satkhira Judge Court Advocate Abdul Latif, GP Advocate Shambhunath Singh, Additional PP Advocate Fahimul Haque Kislu, High Court lawyer Advocate Mohammad Hossain represented the state, while Barrister Aminul Islam, Advocate Shahanara Akhter Bakul and Advocate Abdul Majid stood for the convicts.
Public Prosecutor Abdul Latif said that the people of Satkhira are happy that this verdict was finally given after a long time.
Meanwhile, Chhatra Dal and BNP activists shouted slogans while the accused were being taken to the prison van after the pronouncement of the verdict. From there, the police arrested eight leaders and activists including district Chhatra Dal Secretary Mumtazul Islam Chandan.
On August 30 in 2002, incumbent Prime Minister and then-opposition leader Sheikh Hasina’s convoy came under attack as she was returning to Magura from Satkhira after visiting a freedom fighter’s wife who had been raped.
The motorcade was attacked in front of the BNP office at Kalaroa upazila in Satkhira. Explosives were detonated, vehicles vandalised, and shots were fired at Sheikh Hasina.
Although Sheikh Hasina survived the attack relatively unscathed, at least 12 people, including some Awami League leaders and journalists, were injured, according to the case statement.
When Moslem Uddin, the then-general secretary of Kalaroa Upazila Awami League, tried to file a case over the attack, the police turned him away.
Moslem Uddin then submitted a complaint to a Satkhira court and the court ordered the police station to take the case.
The case was dismissed but revived again by the High Court order on October 15 in 2014.
Police investigated the case and filed a charge-sheet against 50 people, including former BNP MP Habibul Islam Habib, over the attack.
Three separate cases, one for attempt to murder, one under the Explosive Act, and another under the Arms Act, were filed.
On February 4 in 2021, Satkhira Chief Judicial Magistrate Court sentenced the BNP leader and other accused to 4 to10 years jail in the case filed under for attempt to murder.
The charges in the two other cases were heard on June 14 in 2022, and the suspects were indicted on June 17.
After 10 months of the judicial process, the verdict in the two cases was delivered on Tuesday.
